From 134 ships to 16: Turkish expert 'dismantles' Netanyahu's vision

An analysis by Turkish expert Gördeniz, published on 12punto, dismantles Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vision of turning Israel into a maritime power. The analysis reveals that the Israeli merchant fleet has shrunk from 134 ships to just 16, the port of Eilat has lost 80% of its revenue, and Israel lacks essential maritime infrastructure such as shipyards and a civilian coast guard.

An analysis by Turkish expert Gördeniz, published on the website 12punto, dismantles Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vision of turning Israel into a maritime power. The analysis points to a huge gap between aspirations and reality: the Israeli merchant fleet has shrunk from 134 ships to just 16, and the port of Eilat has lost 80% of its revenue. It also shows that Israel's coastline is only 204 km long, its shipyards cannot handle large commercial vessels, and Israel depends on foreign shipyards in Germany and the United States. Additionally, the absence of a civilian coast guard is noted, leading to the deployment of military forces for maritime policing tasks. To compensate for the lack of strategic depth, Israel is strengthening alliances with Greece and Cyprus and expanding energy ties with Egypt. The conclusion: the path to becoming a global maritime power is blocked by a geographical reality that cannot be changed.